Reports: Hotel Staff and Services Improve Guest Satisfaction The Ritz-Carlton, Fujiya Hotel, JR Kyushu Hotel and Super Hotel Rank Highest in Hotel Satisfaction in Their Respective Segments TOKYO: 26 November 2014 Enhancement of guest services and staff attentiveness increase guest satisfaction and their intent to stay at that hotel again, according to the 2014 Japan Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study SM released today. The study, now in its ninth year, measures hotel guest satisfaction across seven factors: reservations; check-in/ check-out; guest rooms; food and beverage 1 ; hotel services; hotel facilities; and cost and fees. Hotels are evaluated in four segments, which are based on the room rate per night and guest room size. The study finds that overall guest satisfaction is 40 points higher (on a 1,000-point scale) among guests who used a hotel service such as the fitness or bath facilities, laundry service, in-room service or Internet access than among guests who did not use a hotel service. Overall satisfaction is 70 points higher among guests who used multiple services. In addition, overall satisfaction among guests who have interaction with the hotel staff during their stay, such as a greeting from the housekeeping staff or a restaurant server is more than 50 points higher for high-price hotels (727 vs. 654) and more than 30 points higher for low-price hotels (642 vs. 592) than among guests who have no interaction with the hotel staff during their stay. Furthermore, satisfaction increased by an additional 50 points when guests indicated that the hotel staff always smiled. Many hotel chains have made long-term investments to improve their properties, and are benefitting from increased satisfaction when their guests utilize their services, said Chie Numanami, senior manager at. However, as part of the investment is in automated methods of check-in and check-out that tend to reduce the number of human touch points, it is important that they use the additional staff time gained to offer a warmer, more personalized experience for their guests as the people aspect plays a vital role in guest satisfaction and loyalty. The study finds that satisfaction leads to an increase of approximately 50 percent in revisit intention. Among guests who have interaction with hotel staff, 32 percent indicate they intend to stay at that hotel again. Intended loyalty drops to 22 percent among guests who do not have interaction with hotel staff. KEY FINDINGS Of the 2,089 hotels of the 142 chains examined in the study, 44 were new hotels that opened between July 2013 and June 2014. Although the 44 new hotels have higher satisfaction scores than existing hotels (689 vs. 659), this is only because high ratings for guest rooms and hotel facilities boost overall satisfaction. 1 In the less than 9,000 per night segment, breakfast is a factor rather than food and beverage.
Among guests at the new hotels, 38 percent the hotel staff provided warm, attentive service, while 40 percent of guests at existing hotels indicated the same. Twenty percent of hotel guests indicate they have experience a check-in and 23 percent have a problem with their room reservation. Hotel Highlights The following hotel brands rank highest in guest satisfaction within their respective segments: 35,000 or More per Night Segment The Ritz-Carlton ranks highest for the ninth consecutive year, with an overall score of 776. The Ritz-Carlton performs particularly well in the reservations, guest rooms, food and beverage, hotel facilities and hotel services factors. Imperial Hotel ranks (767) and performs particularly well in the check-in/check-out and cost and fees factors, while Westin (714) ranks third. 15,000 to Less than 35,000 per Night Segment Fujiya Hotel Chain ranks highest with a score of 718. Fujiya Hotel Chain performs particularly well in the food and beverage, check-in/check-out and hotel services factors. Renaissance (717) ranks second, performing particularly well in the guest rooms and reservations factors. Royal Park (710) ranks third and performs particularly well in the hotel facilities factor. 9,000 to Less than 15,000 per Night Segment JR Kyushu Hotel ranks highest with a score of 672. JR Kyushu Hotel performs particularly well in the hotel facilities factor. Richmond Hotel (669) ranks second and performs particularly well in the guest rooms, check-in/check-out and reservations factors. Candeo Hotels (666) ranks third and performs particularly well in the cost and fees and food and beverage factors. Less than 9,000 per Night Segment Super Hotel ranks highest with a score of 654, performing particularly well in the guest rooms, check-in/check-out and reservations factors. Chisun Inn (637) ranks second and Comfort (634) third. The 2014 Japan Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study is based on responses from 20,840 guests 18 years and older who stayed in a hotel in Japan during the previous 12 months. The online study, which examines 142 hotel groups and chains nationwide, was fielded in August 2014 About : www.jdpower.com About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/corporate About McGraw Hill Financial www.mhfi.com Media Relations Contacts Shizue Hidaka; Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan +81-3-4550-8090; shizue_hidaka@jdpower.co.jp John Tews; Troy, Michigan USA; 001 248 680 6218; john.tews@jdpa.com No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. www.jdpower.com # # # (Page 2 of 2) Note: Four charts follow.
35,000 or More per Night Segment 500 600 700 800 The Ritz-Carlton 776 Imperial Hotel 767 720 Westin 714 Hotel Okura 713 Hyatt Regency 713 InterContinental 708 Sheraton 705 The Prince 695 Hotel New Otani 690 Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: Andaz; Brighton Hotel; Conrad; Four Seasons; Grand Hyatt; Mandarin Oriental; Marriott; Park Hyatt; St. Regis; Shangri-La; Swissotel; and The Peninsula. Source: 2014 Japan Hotel Satisfaction Guest Satisfaction Index Study SM as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on information in this release or study results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power
Fujiya Hotel Renaissance Royal Park Hotel Associa Tokyu Hotel Odakyu Hotel Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyu Resort Hilton Nikko Hotels Metropolitan Hotel La Vista ANA Crowne Plaza Grand Prince Hotel Monterey Keio Plaza Hotel Hotel Granvia Tokyo Dome Hotel Miyako Hotel Loisir Hotel Excel Hotel Tokyu View Hotels ANA Hotels Daiwa Royal Hotel Kowakien Prince Hotel Best Western Hankyu-Hanshin-Daiichi Hotel Hotel Keihan Tobu Hotel 15,000 Yen to Less than 35,000 Yen per Night Segment 500 600 700 800 718 717 710 704 698 697 697 695 691 689 684 679 678 667 667 666 663 660 659 655 653 646 642 640 635 635 634 633 632 625 617 Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are Art Hotels; Chisun Grand; Chisun Resort; Creston Hotels; Cross Hotel; Grand Vrio; Hotel Marroad; Mercure; Novotel; Palace Hotel; Raddison; Rembrandt Hotel; Remm; Royal Pines; and the b. Source: as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on information in this release or study results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power
9,000 to Less than 15,000 per Night Segment 500 600 700 JR Kyushu Hotel Richmond Hotel Candeo Hotels Daiwa Roynet Mitsui Garden Hotel JAL City Dormy Inn Hotel Mets Keikyu EX Inn Hotel Resol Tokyu Inn Sotetsu Fresa Inn Sunroute Hotel Villa Fontaine Washington Hotel Hearton Hotel Hotel Unizo / Unizo Inn 672 669 666 665 665 655 650 645 641 640 628 624 623 617 612 612 611 600 Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: Familiao; Fifty s; Folkloro; Grand Park; Holiday Inn; Hotel Crown Palace; Hotel Fujita; Hotel Gracery; Hotel Mystays; Hotel Paipunokemuri; Hotel Sealuck Pal; Hotel Skycourt; Hotel Tokyu Bizfort; Hotel Trusty; Hotel Vista; Leopalace Hotel; Lotte City Hotel; Okura Frontier Hotel; Premier Inn; The Crest Hotel; Toei Hotel; and Vessel Hotel/ Vessel Inn. Source: 2014 Japan Hotel Satisfaction Guest Satisfaction Index Study SM as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on information in this release or study results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power
Less than 9,000 per Night Segment 500 600 700 Super Hotel 654 Chisun Inn Comfort Viainn Hotel Hotel Hokke Club Hotel Route Inn Nishitetsu Inn Ark Hotel Apa Hotel HOTEL AZ Hotel Alpha-1 Chisun Hotel Toyoko Inn R&B Hotel Washington Hotel Plaza Smile Hotel 637 634 630 629 626 620 614 612 611 609 609 602 600 594 591 590 Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: BlueWave Inn, Court Hotels, E- Hotel, Good-Inn, Greenrich Hotel, Hotel 1-2-3, Hotel ABest, Hotel Active!, Hotel Ascent, Hotel Econo, Hotel No. 1, Hotel Pearl City, Hotel Select-Inn, Manten Hotel, Pearl Hotels, Rich Hotels, Route Inn Grantia, Sanco Inn, Toko City, Urban Hotel, and Wing International. Source: 2014 Japan Hotel Satisfaction Guest Satisfaction Index Study SM as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on information in this release or study results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power